Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hughes, Arkansas 72348
Wednesday, April 13, 1994 11:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON THE FIFTH PASS OVER THE FIELD BEING FERTILIZED, THE AGRICULTURAL PILOT BROKE OFF THE PASS MIDFIELD FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THE PILOT LINED UP AGAIN AT THE SAME ROW HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ABANDONED, AND CONTINUED NORMALLY UNTIL THE MID FIELD POINT. THE FLAGMAN OBSERVED PRONOUNCED UP AND DOWN FLUCTUATIONS OF THE ELEVATORS, AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE POINT HE DUCKED OUT OF THE AIRPLANE'S WAY. THE PILOT DISCONTINUED THE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER AS THE AIRPLANE NEARLY IMPACTED WILLOW TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED EXECUTING A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AND IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHILE IN A RIGHT TURN. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING WAS NEGATIVE, AS WERE AUTOPSY FINDINGS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HUGHES
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72348
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID PBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 206
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 83
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 99
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1255
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9086V
NTSB Number FTW94FA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR
Aircraft Model AT-502
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-502
Aircraft Serial Number 5502-0194
Certified Max Gross Weight 9200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 7 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NELLES AIR SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 360
Aircraft Owner City EARLE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72331
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code NXLG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --